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Monday, February 29, 2016

Since February 29th doesn't come around every year, I thought I would also share a card that is unique as well. This idea wasn't exactly my own, however, I did see something very similar at this blog post when I was looking through Pinterest the other day. I thought it was so lovely, but had to figure out how she did it. I think I did pretty good.

Using watercolor paper, I heat embossed the wild flower image from the "In The Meadow" stamp set, multiple times across the bottom of my paper in clear. I then inked up my clear stamp block with Pool Party (for the sky) and Pear Pizzazz for the ground, spritzed it a bit with water and then stamped it down on the paper. This was a little tricky because I didn't get the look I wanted right away, so I did it a couple more times. Then I spritzed the paper itself and the colors began to bleed a bit into each other. I then took a stamp from "Timeless Textures" to add a smudgy border around the edges in Crumb Cake ink. I then continued using Crumb Cake to sponge the edges, and went over it again with Early Espresso ink. I used my blender pen to add some Old Olive to flower stems, and Rose Red and Delightful Dijon on the Flowers. Once again, I spritzed water over the entire image and let the inks all blend together.

As you can imagine, this curls the paper a bit and gets it fairly soggy, despite it being watercolor paper, but to speed up the process, I applied heat on the low setting, with my embossing tool. After that, it flattened out pretty well. I then stamped the sentiment from the Picture Perfect stamp set.

Just for some extra texture, I decided to frame it with some paper piercing using the piercing tool and the Updated Essentials Piercing Template. I think used a generous amount of Fast Fuse adhesive to mount it securely onto a Basic Black, and then mounted that on a Very Vanilla card base.

I am excited to try some more cards using this technique. I think it turned out very artistic.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Hello everyone. I followed a whim to make a sweet little card that is oh, so simple, and yet rather sweet, if I don't say so myself. I have a new little baby granddaughter that is due in the next few weeks and so babies are on my mind.

Today I used the cute set, Teeny Tiny Wishes from Stampin' Up, layered some Soft Subtles Designer Papers, and Pink Pirouette card stock that I ran through the polka dots embossing folder. I topped everything off with some Bermuda Bay stitched ribbon. Cute, don't you think?

I just wanted this to be a short and sweet post, mostly to say Hello to everyone and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Today I decided to create a video demonstrating how I color using blender pens and ink pads from Stampin' Up. I am not sure if the way I do this is the way they were intended, but I find that it creates a nice effect, not unlike my past experience with Copic Markers in my former videos. (which I will be have at a link on this blog) Since the ink pads are water based, as opposed to alcohol based, they have to be dealt with almost like water colors, but the effect is still somewhat different.

I would love to hear your opinions of the final outcome of this video. In advance, I would like to apologize about the lighting of the video, I need to work on establishing a better vantage point for the camera, but overall, I think it is good enough to get the idea.

To use the ink, I dab a clear stamp block onto my ink pad, and that creates my palette, where I can swipe the blender pen across to pick up the ink. I make sure that I color only 1 petal or area at a time before moving onto the next area. This allows the image to come to life. I also try to color in the direction of the growth of the petal. I continue by adding layers to make more depth and shading, and gradually move out to the lighter shade of the same color by using less ink on my pen.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Today I decided to share a video with you using 2 of the new stamp sets from the 2016 Occasions Catalog from Stampin' Up!. Timeless Textures and Picture Perfect. I hope you find this video interesting and come back again to visit me soon. I am trying to post much more frequently now, and I think there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

If you are interested in ordering from me, I would be very happy to have you as my customer. Please follow the links at the top of my blog page to browse through the products available. Additionally, feel free to email me or leave a comment below. Thank you for coming to visit today.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Hello Monday! This is the day after my birthday and I am home, avoiding work (a day off) and enjoying some special time to play with my paper and inks. Today, I even think I am going to attempt to make a video! It's been a really long time since I have tried this, but I was thinking it might be fun to share a technique with ink and blender pens.

For now, however, I want to share you with you a very special stamp set that you can earn for FREE, now through March 31st, 2016. All you would need to do is purchase $50 in any product from Stampin' Up, and you could select this, or many other super awesome products that are, well...FREE! Keep in mind, that if you were to purchase $100, you could select 2 Free items. Let's not forget that at $150, you would not only be able to choose 3 free items, but you would also qualify for hostess rewards. And, let's assume, you would instead like to give yourself 20% off all the time, it has never been a better time than to sign up with Stampin Up. For only $99, you can select $155 of any items you want. Then, after that, you can decide if you want to take it further and sell to your friends and family...or make new friends and sell to them. The rewards and benefits are pretty awesome. And it's very low pressure. You can do what you'd like to do from there. All the information is above in my links, or feel free to email me and I can share more information with you.

Now for this gorgeous stamp set. What I Love...

If you have enjoyed 2-step stamping, you are going to love this set. It even takes it a step further with 3 step stamping to add additional layers and depth to the image. Pretty, isn't it? Additionally, the designer series paper, Wildflower Fields, is also a FREE item with any $50 purchase.

Remember, these deals are only now through March 31st...so now is the time to get these very exclusive and limited deals.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Hello Friends. So, today is my birthday. I thought I would share a birthday card I created along with take a moment to announce who the winner of my giveaway is. First of all the card. I dearly love the Mint Macaron paper and ink. Used along with the crumb cake ink its such a nice subtle look. I used the new Timeless Textures stamp set and the flowers were created with the Grateful Bunch Stamp set. The verse was taken from Birthday Blossoms. All these supplies are available to purchase and can be obtained by visiting my 24/7 Stampin' Up store link at the top of my page. Remember, now through March 31st, you can also select one of the free items from the Saleabration catalog for every $50 purchase. Later this week, I will share with you a few of the new items that just came available on February 16th.

As Promised, I will now announce the winner of the Sky is the Limit Stamp and card kit giveaway. And the winner is:

Mamawcindy

Please email me your address so I can get those out in the mail to you this week.

I hope everyone will continue to come back and visit. I promise to showcase more items, tutorials and giveaways in upcoming posts.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Today is the last day you can enter in my birthday giveaway. Please check out the details here.

Lately, it hasn't felt much like winter here in Idaho. For February, we would usually have much colder, possibly snowy, wintery weather. But, milder temperatures have made me yearn for spring time, so these cards are for this very reason.

A few weeks ago, I demonstrated these 2 cards at a workshop a friend of mine held. I really liked the easy way we layered colors to create 2 very different cards, and yet the base stamps are from the same stamp set. Garden in Bloom is one of my favorite sets, because it is very versatile. It works well with other stamp sets or just on it's own, because the set has everything you need. Plus, I love the option to do 2 step stamping.

It also worked very well when creating this emboss resist technique. I CASE'd this card from one I found on Pinterest. I do like the way the ink pops behind the white embossed image. Super pretty, and also super easy. And once again, using the same stamp set.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Hello Again! Did everyone have an opportunity to look at Monday's post where I shared my great birthday giveaway? I hope you have taken a moment and entered. I am so excited to share it with you, but time is running out. I might mention that in the past year or so, my viewers have dwindled, so there is no better time than right now to have the most excellent odds of winning!

Anyway, time to talk about today's topic. There are many fun kits available in the Stampin' Up catalog, and one that really struck my interest was the Hello Life Project Kit. This kit is so awesome because not only do you receive all the pre-cut pieces, embellishment and mini silver clothespins, you also receive this awesome bakers rack to display your project on. Here is the one that I created and it is displayed currently at my office.

What I have displayed here is only a portion of what you receive in the kit, so you can go on from there and also use the supplies in cards or maybe your Project Life scrapbook.

Now was never a better time to order from Stampin' Up! The hostess benefits are deeper, the customer orders have more free product opportunity as well as becoming a demonstrator yourself has never been a better deal. Please read more about it here, or contact me and I will be happy to discuss it with you!

Monday, February 15, 2016

Hello stampers! I wanted to let you know about a very special event that is coming up this Sunday, February 21, 2016. It's my birthday! And because I care about all of you that have taken the time to be my follower the past years or even recently, I want to give one person a gift from me! Now through Saturday night (Feb 20th), 11:59 PM, anyone that does at least 2 out of the 3 of the following, and leaves a comment, to let me know, is eligible to be in a free drawing for a free stamp set.

The 3 things are:

Become a follower of this blog (if you are not already) This will require a gmail email address

Share a link to this post on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. And if you add to more than 1 form of social media, it can count as 2 requirements)

Add the grab a button and add me to your own blog

Use the button shown on the right column

Once you have done at least 2 out of 3 of these things, please leave me a comment below so I can add you into the drawing. It's pretty simple! The item that I will be giving away for my birthday celebration is:

Sky is the Limit
This will be a clear mount, brand new stamp set. I can mail it to any anyone with an address in the United States. Along with the stamp set I will include a card made with the stamps of this set and enough supplies for you to make 3 more cards for yourself! It's a pretty great deal.

Here is the finished card sample of the card kit I will including. Along with the limited time stamp set, I will also include a generous sampling of the limited Perfectly Artistic Designer Paper that is also going, going, gone as of today.

What this all means is, today, Feb 15, 2016, is the very last day you can order from Stampin' Up and receive either this stamp set or the Perfectly Artistic Designer Paper as a free item for every $50 purchase. This means, ordering it today or entering in my drawing may be the last opportunity you have to own it for yourself.

Thank you for being with me through all the transitions of this blog. I truly appreciate you and hope you will continue to come visit for more content and ideas. In the upcoming weeks, I plan on sharing some step by step and video tutorials, as well as more giveaways and fun things.

Also, because our SaleABration is not over yet, stay tuned this week as I share a few NEW items, not yet revealed that will also be FREE with any $50 purchase.